The Mark of Cain

With their name, characteristic close-cropped hair and powerful songs The Mark Of Cain has carved a special path in punk oriented rock, be it a long and convoluted path.

The Mark Of Cain was formed in Adelaide mid-84, after guitarist John Scott's earlier band Spiral Collapse split up. There were several reasons for that group's demise. Mainly, John was in his last year at Uni and couldn't give the band all his time; things weren't working out with the group's lead singer; and John was after a new, harder sound. For the new group he enlisted younger brother Kim. John had been in and out of bands for five years, while encouraging Kim to take up bass. The time had come for the brothers to play together. John met the new group's singer Rod Archer at a party Spiral Collapse had played at. Spiral Collapse's drummer Gavin Atchison stayed behind the kit.

The inspiration for the new group would come from bands like Joy Division, the Stooges and Big Black. The band name came from the Herman Hess book 'Demian' John was reading at the time, about a loner who thought his dark feelings were there for anyone to see as he walked down the street - the Mark Of Cain. Biblically, Cain committed the first murder. The new group quickly ran into personality problems. John Scott and Gavin Atchison were seasoned musicians. Kim Scott and Rod Archer were novices. It frustrated Atchison to the point of his deciding to leave. He was also more interested in pursuing the brand of hard rock of rising band Metallica, rather than the intense goth-rock John favoured. The replacement drummer didn't work out and while looking for someone else, for a few months The Mark Of Cain rehearsed and wrote songs with a drum machine John Scott bought for $160. Then the band fell out with singer Rod Archer. He didn't like being told what to do, and wasn't quite right for the music the band was playing - but the last straw had nothing to do with the music. John Scott was sharing a house with Archer and his girlfriend. When the girlfriend's dog was run over by a car, John put it out of its misery with a car jack. Disgusted, Rod Archer left the band and John Scott found somewhere else to live. He also took over as TMOC's singer. There was far more happening on stage than off. Until the end of 1986 they picked up gigs wherever they could, earning just enough money to hire the PA.

A couple of false starts in the recording studio, and a demo tape which was ignored by almost everybody finally found a momentary sympathetic ear at Sydney's Phantom Records, Australia's pioneering independent record label, set up by former Radio Birdman manager Jules Normington. The first The Mark Of Cain single coupled 'Can You See Now?' (about a wrecked relationship and the emptiness that ensues) and 'Lords Of Summer' (about the split second before a person dies in a car crash during which they suddenly see all the failures and successes of their life). They also gained great confidence supporting Big Black's Australian shows in Adelaide. But for every couple of steps forward there was a step back. Phantom had heard something different in the group than what they wanted to deliver, and their progress was periodically interrupted as they kept changing drummers. At the end of 1988 they added their fifth, Campbell Robinson.

Despite everything, in February they recorded their first album, 'Battlesick' for an independent label back home in Adelaide. The artwork featured a black and white photograph of what looked like a Vietnam War soldier leaning over his machine gun, head in hands. A large Christian cross is hanging from his neck. Songs from that album remain part of TMOC's repertoire. The second album, 'The Unclaimed Prize', again recorded for Dominator, was released on the strength of a growing reputation interstate, especially Melbourne. By the time the album was released the band was indefinitely on hold. John Scott had travelled overseas on an 18-month work-rated project. Kim Scott followed in 1991. Both have Bachelor degrees, John Electronic, and Kim Mechanical Engineering.

In Chicago in 1992 the Scotts put The Mark Of Cain back together to take advantage of being able to work with Big Black's Steve Albani as producer. (Albani would later produce Nirvana). TMOC's Albani sessions were released as the EP 'Incoming'. In mid-'92 TMOC reformed back in Australia for live performances, with yet another drummer - Aaron Hewson. One of the bands they supported in the subsequent period was the Rollins Band and then, now a fan, in early 1995 Henry Rollins offered to finance and produce a third album. He also made arrangements to release the band's back catalogue worldwide on his own label. In Australia the 'Ill At ease' album was released on Ra Records, with mainstream record company distribution. The group's fourth album 'Rock And Roll' offered other people's remixes of band favourites. The soldier was back on the cover. No cross. Ready for action.

In February 1997 TMOC's version of X's 'Degenerate Boy' from the 'Idiot Box' soundtrack was released as a single. The next single appeared four years later. 'Retaliate' was inspired by infamous psychopath Howard Unruh, a distinguished war veteran who shot thirteen of his neighbours in as many minutes in 1949 because he thought they were picking on him. Seventeen years after naming his group The Mark Of Cain John Scott was still preoccupied with the psychology of the loner. 'Retaliate' was the first taste of a long-awaited new album, 'This Is This..."

Oh yes, they have a new drummer - John Stainer, formerly of Helmet. According to their official website, The Mark of Cain will be entering the studio with John Stanier to record a new album in February 2008.